City have mustered a disappointing defence of their Premier League crown this term, and find themselves 12 points adrift of rivals Manchester United at the summit.

But, after his side sealed passage to the quarter finals of the FA Cup with a 4-0 win over Leeds on Sunday, the Italian insisted his recent managerial record is unmatched.

“In the last 15 months I am the best manager in England," he toldthe BBC.

“Someone says for six months that Manchester City would change manager, [Pep] Guardiola would come in, and after Guardiola went to Bayern Munich, now another manager.

“I won one Premier League, one FA Cup, one Charity Shield, there is not another manager that's won like me in the last 15 months. I can do nothing but it is the reality.”

City overturned an eight-point deficit to pip United to the title last season, and Mancini thinks a repeat is possible if Sergio Aguero stays on form.

“I hope Sergio will be like this until the end of the season,” Mancini added. “If Sergio is like this and our strikers continue to score a lot of goals from now until the end, the championship is not finished.”